Cable-grip.



W. J. SELLECK.

No. 895,048. A

PATBNTED AUG. 4, 1908.

CABLE GRIP.

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W. J. SELLECK.

. CABLE GRH.

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UNITED STATES. PATENT oEEioE.

WILLIAM J. SELLECK, OF RIVERSIDE, CONNECTICUT.

CABLE-GRIP.

No. 895,048. Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug. 4, 1908.

Application filed. November 25, 1907. Serial No. 403,677.

T o all whom it 1may concern.: Y confine the base D, but leave. it free to turn.

Be it known that l, WiLLLxw J. SELLECK, l a citizen of the United States, residing at Riverside, in the count-y of Fairlield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvement-s in Cable- Grips, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

)ly invention relates to cable grips, and its object is to provide a safe and durable device of this character, having capacity Ier instantaneously gripping and releasing the cable either on a curve or straight line and for maintaining constant potential or actual connection between the car and cable rcgardless of the usual deflections or deviations in the cable ways, or between the car track and cable. The device is ,also readily attachable to cars of various types, and is operable with a high degree of accuracy and certainty either automatically or manually.

In the accompanying drawings I lia-veillustrated a device embod .ing my invention in its preferred form.

Figure 1 is an end view of a car with the cable grip attached to the rear end thereof, showing an end new of the latter. F ig. 2 is a side view of the rear of the car showing a side view of t-he cable grip. Fig. 3 is a. sectional view taken on line 3 of Fig. 2, showing, in plan view, the top of the cable grip. Fig. 4 is a face view of one of the bearings 1n which the shank or upward extension of the tong supporting arm 1s guided in opening or unlocking the grip. Fig. 5 is ,a horizontal sectional view on line 5 of Fig. 7 showing the cable guide. Fig. 6 is a similar view on line 6 of Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a transverse section on line 7 of Fig. 2. Figs. 8 and 9 are detailed views of the universal joint connections between the controlling rod and the grip mechanism.

In the drawings, A represents acar, B the way upon which it travels, and C a tract-ion cable. The gripping mechanism is braced and secured to the car, preferably at the rear, to sills, l), b', upon an annular base D. To accommodate the mechanism to lateral Curves in the track and cable ways this base has capacity for rotary or swivel motion, which prefer to obtain by conlining it between four corner u )right rollers or holsters, b2, bolted to the sills, b3, by bolts, b4. The rollers or holsters, b2, are provided with flanges, b5, at their upper extremities, which The base, D, is also tree to rise vertically between the ianges, t5, and the sills, this construction permitting accommodation of the mechanism to vertical unevennesses in the path of travel of the car and cable. To opposite sides of the base, D, a're removably secured a pair of bearings, 10, preferably by means of bolts or nuts, 11, adapted to pivotally support, at the points, 12, a depending supporting arm, e, which swings on 12 as a. pivot, and carries tongs, j', f', pivotally secured thereto, at 14, 1l, respectively. The tongs are supported from the base, D, and, while swinging independently, turn or rise with it. The upper ends of the tongs, f, f', are connected with links, g, g', g being pivoted tofat 15, g tof at 16, and together at 1T. Passing through the links, g, g', at the point 17, are the trunnions, g2, g3, of the guide block, g4.

The tongs, f, f, are operated through the links, g, g', by means of a longitudinally movable controlling rod, le, secured to the car, the lower end of which passes through a double cone opening 1S through the guide block g4, thus allowing a turning or rocking motion of the guide block, g4, about the rod, h. At the lower end of the vertical controlling rod, lz, is a nut 19 provided with the prongs 20 normally embracing the shank or upward projection 21, of the depending supporting arm, e. These prongs are adapted to guide the arm e and limit its swing or play. The controlling rod, 71, is heldin position in respect to the guide block, g4, by the nut, 19, and a lock nut, 22, each provided on the surfaces adjacent to the guide block g4 with diverging rocker faces, 23, 24, to allow for the tilting or rocking of the guide block and rod, h.

One of the bearings 10 is provided with an upwardly extended slotted arm, l', (Fig. 4), the slot 25 therein being adapted to receive the trunnion g3 of the guide block g4. The slot 25, at its lower portion, is of greater area than at the top or its upward extension.

By the construction described, the gripping mechanism is free to turn and t-o rise or fall without disturbing the control of the rodl1, a species of universal joint connection being maintained between the stationaryr controlling mechanism and the flexible cable grip. The arm e is limited to a short swinging play between the prongs 20, the trunnion g3 moving in the lower part of the slot 25. As the rod z is drawn up the taper upper extension of the slot 25 of arm 7: limits or guides the arm through the guide block q4 and its trunnion g3 and maintains the control of the rod h over the gripping mechanism. The rod h ma-y be raised or lowered to operate the grip in any convenient manner, either manually, or automatically by means of stops contacting with the lever 29 or its connections. Upon lifting the lever to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, the controlling rod L is raised to draw links g, g', upwards at 17 and open the jaws of tongs f, f.

To guide the jaws to accurate registration about the cable the opposite ends of adjacent faces of each tong are provided at the lower extremity with' overlapping lips or cable guides, o, p, as shown in Fig. 6. The upper end of the arm f is cut away to receive a spring tension device adapted to take up wear, and also to give an elastic spring grip to the tong f. The spring tension device l may be used to advantage. It consists of a bolt 26, the head of which is recessed to receive the pivot 16, while the rear or the opposite end is provided with nuts, confined between a washer and the outer wall of the tong f, and a spring m, as shown in F ig. 7.

I do not mean to confine myself to the form or specific construction of the device above described nor to be understood as limiting myself thereto, as I am aware that many modifications will suggestthemselves to those skilled in the art; but

lVhat I claim is 1. ln a cable grip, rigid supports, a base secured thereto having capacity for rotation and elevation independently thereof, and means mounted on said base for alternately grasping and releasing a cable.

2. In a cable grip, rigid supports, upright rollers thereon, provided with top tianges, a base confined by said rollers and supports adapted to be rotated and lifted independently thereof and means, mounted on said base, for alternately grasping and releasing a cable.

3. In a cable grip, in combination with a car and cable, a base, secured to said car, adapted to rotate independently thereof, a cont-rolling rod secured to said car, grip mechanism, mounted on said base, for alternately grasping and releasing the cable and universal joint connections between said rod and grip mechanism, whereby said grip mechanism is free to turn independently of said car without disturbing connection with said controlling rod, substantially as and for the purposes described.

4. ln a cable grip, a rotary base adapted to be swiveled to a car, a depending arm pivotaily attached to said base, tongs pivoted to said arm, links adapted to operate said tongs, a. controlling rod adapted to be mounted on said car, and universal joint connections between said rod and links.

5. ln a cable grip, a pair of gripping jaws, means for securing them on a car to turn independently thereof about a iixed axis, a pair of links pivoted together and to the upper end of each of said jaws, a controlling rod, means for securing it to move vertically on said car, and rocking and rotary connections between said rod and links, whereby said jaws may be controlled by said rod while turning independently thereof, substantially as described.

6. ln combination with a 'car and cable, a base, means for securing it to said car to rotate and move vertically independently thereof'` a supporting arm pivoted to said base, tongs pivoted to said arm, links pivoted together and to the upper end of each tong, a guide block, pivoted to said links, having a double cone opening and a controlling rod longitudinally movable on said car having its lower end loosely secured in said opening, substantially as described.

7. ln combination with a car and cable, a base secured on the car, to rotate and move vertically independently thereof, a supporting arm pivoted to said base, tongs pivoted to the lower portion of said arm, their upper ends extending above said supporting arm, links pivoted together and to the upper end of cach tong, a guide-block, having an opening above said arm, pivoted within said links and a slotted u )right arm, a longitudinally movable controlling rod, secured to the car, having its louer end loosely locked in said guide block, and prongs secured to the lower end of said rod adapted to embrace the upper end ot' said supporting arm, the slot in said upright arm being tapered from bottom to top, substantially as described.

S. In combination with a car and cable, a base, means tor confining said base to a short vertical movement while leaving it free to turn or swivel about a iixed axis, a supporting arm pivoted to said base, tongs pivoted to the lower portion of said arm, a pair of links pivoted together and to the upper ends of each of said tongs, a guide block pivoted to said links at their common pivotal point, a double cone opening through said guide block, a vertically movable rod secured to said car, its lower end passing loosely through said block and .having downu-'ardly projecting prongs adapted to limit the swing of the upper end of said supporting arm, al lock nut secured to said rod above said block, rocker surfaces on the faces of said nuts adjacent to said block, an arm extension on said base having a slot tapering from bottom to top, and adapted to receive an end of said block, and means for operating said vertically movable rod, substantially as described.

9. In combination with a car and cable, a controlling rod secured to the car, means for moving said rod vertically, a base secured to turn on said car, a depending arm mounted thereon, tongs adapted to engage the cable pivoted to said arni, links adapted alternatel)v to be lifted 0r lowered to open or close said tongs, a guide block pivoted to said links having a double cone opening through which the lower end of said rod is passed and secured loosely by lock bolts, lock bolts having curved faces on the sides adjacent to said guide block, prongs on one of said bolts adapted to limit the swing of sa id depending arni and a guide arm having a slot adapted to engage a projection on said guide block, substantially as described.

10. In combination with tongs pivoted intermediate of their ends, a pair of links pivoted together and to the upper end of each link, a recess in the upper end of one of said tongs, a bolt within said recess cut away to receive the pivot of the adjacent link, nuts on the opposite end thereof confined between a Washer and the outer wall of said tong and a spring adapted to apply tension on said pivot of the link, substantially as described.

1]. In a cable grip, in combination with tongs, a. pair of links pivoted together and to the upper end of each tong, a recess in the upper end of one of said tongs, a bolt within said recess having the head adjacent to said links out away to receive the pivot of the adjacent link, said head being confined between said pivot and a washer on said bolt, and a. spring adapted to exert tension on said pivot and the outer wall of said tong.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM J. SELLECK.

"Yitnesses:

ARTHUR GREENE, CHARLES L. HINE. 

